What hair dye is best for African American hair?

Adora Plus is infused with good for your hair ingredients.

Updated on June 20, 2022 @ 07:13AM

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The key factor that makes the difference between making at-home coloring a success (or a disaster), is the box dye you use.

"A great at-home hair dye is one that has a good color deposit so you can effectively cover your hair's existing color," says celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble. "Look for lines that have variations in tones so you can find the best color for you."

Most box dyes come with the essential tools to assist you with your application, and easy instructions explaining how to mix and apply your color. "To make sure the dye doesn't cause any irritation, I always recommend doing a patch test behind your ear 24 hours before coloring. Also, ensure your hair is washed and clean, I like to use my Coconut Milk & Avocado Oil Shampoo on my clients."

Some other things to remember when coloring your own hair include: basing your scalp, protecting your work area, and wearing gloves. You should always keep in mind that dye will stain anything it touches — so it's essential to cover everywhere it could reach.

We recommend the Adora Plus hair dye because it's formulated with a blend of conditioning and natural ingredients.

Ready to get started? Great! Below, we've shared six of the best box dyes for natural hair.

Our Picks

Adore Plus

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Infused with vitamin E, jojoba oil, and natural proteins, this semi-permanent dye helps to repair damaged cuticles and provide a healthy, resilient shine. The exclusive formula is free of ammonia, peroxide, and alcohol and offers a perfect blend of natural ingredients to condition the hair.

Clairol Professional Texture and Tones Permanent Hair Color

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This ammonia-free hair color is specifically created for relaxed and natural hair. The luxurious, moisture-rich, conditioning, and anti-fade formula contains natural protein and jojoba for long-lasting color and shine.

Creme Of Nature Pure Honey Color Boost

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Get bold, vibrant color in just 15 minutes with this new semi-permanent, hydrating color boost. Enriched with pure honey, the non-drying cream conditions and nourishes each strand as it colors, helping to protect against breakage.

VIDEO: 7 Short Hair Color Ideas, According to a Celebrity Stylist

Dark and Lovely Ultra Vibrant Go Intense Hair Dye

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Add visible, long-lasting, fade-resistant color to your natural hair with this super pigmented dye. The nourishing drip-free formula features an anti-drying gel that is infused with hydrating olive oil, to provide high-impact shine and ultra-smoothness.

Madison Reed Permanent Hair Color

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This Smart 8-Free permanent hair color is free of harsh ingredients and provides hair-loving nutrients including keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root. There's no need to be afraid if you are trying color for the first time, professional, licensed hair colorists are standing by to review your photos and offer support via phone, text, and chat.

Shea Moisture Nourishing Hair Color

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This ammonia-free hair color gently, yet effectively, colors your hair. The ultra-hydrating solution includes shea butter to provide intense moisture, minimize damage, and reveals a softer, silkier, healthy appearance.

This is All Natural. From the kinkiest coils to loose waves, we're celebrating natural hair in its many forms by sharing expert tips for styling, maintenance, and haircare.

We know it has long been frowned upon to color your hair at home. But, the times they are a-changing. With the current state of the world, it’s not always feasible to make a salon appointment or visit as regularly as you once did. The pandemic has really done a number on the industry, which is why many are taking matters into their own hands and dyeing their stands at home. If you happen to belong to that group and also dye your hair black (or want to dye your hair black), we’ve got just the thing for you. Below, we rounded up the best black hair dyes for gorgeous at-home color. Keep scrolling to browse the selection!

Madison Reed Blackest Black: $25

Madison Reed makes dyeing your hair at home so incredibly easy. Their Color Kits offer professional-level supplies to aid you in feeling all the more confident in your hair coloring abilities and so you don’t regret dyeing your hair black. You can even book a video consult with one of their colorist to help walk you through the process.

For black hair, we highly recommend their Blackest Black shade. Free of ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS, and titanium dioxide, this dye offers 100% gray coverage and will leave your hair feeling healthy while looking shiny. Your hair is in good hands with Madison Reed.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Madison Reed)

Clairol Professional 1AA/52D Ultra Cool Black LiquiColor Permanent Hair Color: $8.99

One of the top rated black hair dyes at Sally Beauty, this permanent hair color offers up to 84% more deep conditioning than the leading professional cream. You can also expect a boost to your hair’s shine after application and 100% gray coverage. Don’t forget the long-lasting results either.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Sally Beauty)

Color Brilliance by Ion 1V Jet Black Permanent Creme Hair Color: $7.99

This black hair dye utilizes pure ionic micro-pigments for a deeper, more intense color deposit and gray coverage. The powerful pigments also allow for long-lasting, fade-resistant color so you won’t need to re-dye your hair as often. And if you happen to be vegan, this formula is ideal for you as it is vegan and cruelty-free.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Sally Beauty)

AgeBeautiful 1V Plum Black Permanent Liqui-Creme Hair Color: $8.49

Not only does this black hair dye deliver beautiful, rich color, but it’s also formulated to combat signs of hair aging. A blend of melanin, keratin peptide, silk protein and a patented conditioning technology gives your hair everything it’s missing. Your color will look stunning and your hair will appear fuller and silkier.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Sally Beauty)

Arctic Fox Transylvania Semi Permanent Hair Color: $18.69

Free of harsh chemicals and full of added conditioners, this Arctic Fox hair color offers a long-lasting semi-permanent color that won’t bleed. Lasting anywhere from four to eight weeks, the high-impact hue looks stunning on every skin tone. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free, and as with every Arctic Fox product, this dye donates 15% of its profits to animal-centered charities. Do some good while dyeing your hair.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Sally Beauty)

Manic Panic Dark Star Amplified Semi-Permanent Hair Color: $16.99

Manic Panic’s Dark Star is a very deep, slightly purple-toned gray hair dye that can be used to darken any other Manic Panic hair color, which is one of the many reasons we recommend this dye. It allows you to experiment with your shade and create a black that’s unique to you. Apart from that, the formula uses a conditioning base to moisturize the hair while you color it. This shade is heavily-pigmented so expect a color that dazzles.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Ulta)

dpHue Black Gloss+ Semi-Permanent Hair Color and Deep Conditioner: $35

When your color is lacking shine and vibrancy, reach for this glossy semi-permanent hair color. It isn’t meant for dramatic hair color changes, but rather adds some brilliance to your current color. So if your hair is already black and you just want to refresh it, this hair dye is for you.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Sephora)

Good Dye Young None More Black Semi-Permanent Hair Color: $18

None More Black from Good Dye Young is a blackest black hue with a blue-violet undertone to make the color pop. This non-toxic formula works for all hair types and deposits an ultra-vibrant color using professional-grade pigments. You can expect the color to last between four to six weeks.

What hair dye is best for African American hair?

(via Sephora)

Before you opt for any black shade, make sure it’s the right one for you. Discover the best shade of black for your skin tone HERE!

How can I dye my African hair without damaging it?

Dyeing natural hair tips:.
Skip the shampoo before you dye. ... .
Apply a pre-color treatment. ... .
Deep-condition regularly. ... .
Use a color-preserving shampoo to protect your hair after you dye it. ... .
Avoid hot water to maintain your color. ... .
Give your hair a break from heat-styling..

What is the most common hair color for African American?

Black Hair: 85% Brown Hair: 11%

What hair dye can I use on black hair?

You can dye your black hair any color without bleach. Light brown, red, dark red, blue, magenta, purple, and even lighter colors, like blonde, are possible without bleach. Just because you're not using bleach, it doesn't mean that you can't achieve your desired shade.